Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same

ABSTRACT

The LCD device of this invention comprises an LC panel having a plurality of pixels defined by a plurality of gate lines and data lines, one or more gate shorting bars disposed outside the LC panel, for applying a test signal to the LC panel through gate lines, first and second data shorting bars disposed outside the LC panel, for applying test signals to odd and even numbered data lines, respectively, an odd numbered data link line connected to the odd numbered data line, and spacing from the first data shorting bar by a predetermined distance, an even numbered data link line connected to the even numbered data line, and spacing from the second data shorting bar by a predetermined distance, and a connection line for electrically connecting the odd numbered data link line and the first data shorting bar with each other, and connecting the even numbered data link line and the second data shorting bar with each other through contact holes, wherein the odd numbered data link line has a length equal to that of the even numbered data link line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit ofearlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No.10-2009-0087224, filed on Sep. 15, 2009, the content of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) deviceand a method of fabricating the same, and particularly, to an LCD devicecapable of preventing inferiority of a thin film transistor (TFT) due toa charging current difference by maintaining a charging currentoccurring from an odd numbered data line to be equal to a chargingcurrent occurring from an even numbered data line, and a method offabricating the same.

2. Background of the Invention

A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is a transmissive flat paneldisplay device, and is mainly applied to each kind of electronic devicessuch as a notebook computer, personal digital assistants (PDA), and amobile phone. Recently, this LCD device is being actively practicalizedmuch more than other flat display devices owing to its thin and lightcharacteristic and high picture quality. As demands for high-definitiontelevisions (HDTVs), digital televisions, and wall-mounted televisionsare increased, research on an LCD device of a large area which can beapplied to the TVs is actively ongoing.

Generally, LCD devices may be classified into several types according toa method of driving liquid crystal molecules. Nowadays, an active matrixTFT-LCD device is being mainly used owing to a fast response speed andless residual images.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a structure of an LC panel 1 of aTFT-LCD device in accordance with the conventional art.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of gate lines 3 and data lines 5 whichdefine a plurality of pixels by being arranged in horizontal andvertical directions are formed on the LC panel 1. A thin film transistor(TFT) 7, a switching device is arranged in each pixel. When a scansignal is inputted to the TFT through the gate line 3, the TFT isswitched to apply a signal inputted through the data line 5 to the pixel9.

A gate driving portion 11 and a data driving portion 15 are arrangedoutside the LC panel 1. A plurality of gate driving circuits 12 arearranged at the gate driving potion 11, thereby inputting scan signalsto the gate lines 3 through pads (not shown). This scan signal isapplied to a gate electrode of the TFT 7 to activate a semiconductorlayer of the TFT 7. A plurality of data driving circuits 16 are arrangedat the data driving potion 15, thereby inputting image signals to thedata lines 5 through pads (not shown). This image signal is applied tothe pixel 9 through source and drain electrodes of the TFT 7 when thesemiconductor layer has been activated (i.e., a channel has been formedat the semiconductor layer).

The pixel 9 is formed at an intersection between the gate line 3 and thedata line 5, and is provided with one TFT 7. Accordingly, the pixelsformed at each column is connected to one data line 5, and receive asignal applied through the corresponding data line 5.

In the conventional LCD device, one data line is connected to one pixelformed at each column. Accordingly, when ‘N’ data lines are arranged atthe LC panel 1 and ‘n’ data lines are connected to the data drivingcircuits 16, ‘N/n’ data driving circuits 16 are totally required. Here,the data driving circuits 16 are expensive integrated circuits.Accordingly, when one data line is connected to one pixel formed at eachcolumn and a signal is applied to the data line, a large number of datadriving circuits 16 are required. This may increase the fabricationcosts of the LCD device.

Recently, as polycrystalline TFT techniques develop, there isimplemented a structure of a system on panel (SOP) for integrating adata driving portion with pixels on an LC panel. In this structure, alarge number of data driving circuits have to be formed in the LC panel.This may increase the fabrication costs, and increase an area of the LCpanel.

In order to solve these problems, has been proposed an LCD devicecapable of sharing one data line by two pixels. In this LCD device,since two pixels are connected to one data line, two columns of pixelsare connected to one data line.

However, this LCD device has the following problem.

When a threshold voltage difference occurs between a TFT of a pixelconnected to an odd numbered data line and a TFT of a pixel connected toan even numbered data line at the time of fabricating the LCD device, abrightness of pixels connected to the odd numbered data line isdifferent from a brightness of pixels connected to the even numbereddata line. This may cause a picture quality to be deteriorated.

This problem may occur even when one data line is connected to onepixel. In this case, since one column of a pixel is connected to acorresponding data line, a brightness difference can not be easilyrecognized by a human's eyes. On the other hand, when one data line isshared by two pixels, a brightness difference occurs from two columns ofpixels thus to be easily recognized by a human's eyes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquidcrystal display (LCD) device capable of preventing a threshold voltagedifference between thin film transistors (TFTs) connected to data lines,by maintaining a charging current occurring from an odd numbered dataline to be equal to a charging current occurring from an even numbereddata line, by disconnecting a first data shorting bar and a second datashorting bar from an odd numbered data link line and an even numbereddata link line, respectively, and a method of fabricating the same.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is provided a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, comprising: anLC panel having a plurality of pixels defined by a plurality of gatelines and data lines; one or more gate shorting bars disposed outsidethe LC panel, for applying a test signal to the LC panel through gatelines; first and second data shorting bars disposed outside the LCpanel, for applying test signals to odd and even numbered data lines,respectively; an odd numbered data link line connected to the oddnumbered data line, and spacing from the first data shorting bar by apredetermined distance; an even numbered data link line connected to theeven numbered data line, and spacing from the second data shorting barby a predetermined distance; and a connection line for electricallyconnecting the odd numbered data link line and the first data shortingbar with each other, and connecting the even numbered data link line andthe second data shorting bar with each other through contact holes,wherein the odd numbered data link line has a length equal to that ofthe even numbered data link line.

The LC panel may include a plurality of gate lines for applying scansignals to the pixels; a plurality of data lines crossing the gatelines, each data line shared by two adjacent pixels, for applying imagesignals to the corresponding pixels; a thin film transistor (TFT) formedat each of the pixels; a pixel electrode formed at each of the pixels;and a metallic layer formed at an interface between pixels which do notshare the data line, wherein the TFT comprises a gate electrode formedon a first substrate, a gate insulating layer formed on the gateelectrode, a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer,source and drain electrodes formed on the semiconductor layer, and apassivation layer formed over an entire region of the first substrate.

The first data shorting bar may be formed of the same material as thesource electrode, the second data shorting bar may be formed of the samematerial as the gate electrode, and the connection line may be formed ofIndium Tin Oxide (ITO) or Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO).

A second equi-potential circuit may be arranged between the odd numbereddata link line and the even numbered data link line. And, a metallicline connected to the data line through the second equi-potentialcircuit may be arranged at an end of the data line.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is also provided a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display(LCD) device, the method comprising: forming, on a substrate, an LCpanel including gate lines and data lines which define a plurality ofpixels, and TFTs, one or more gate shorting bars disposed outside the LCpanel, for applying a test signal to the LC panel through gate lines,first and second data shorting bars disposed outside the LC panel, forapplying test signals to an odd numbered data line and an even numbereddata line, respectively, an odd numbered data link line connected to theodd numbered data line, and spacing from the first data shorting bar bya predetermined distance, an even numbered data link line connected tothe even numbered data line, and spacing from the second data shortingbar by a predetermined distance, and a connection line for electricallyconnecting the odd numbered data link line and the first data shortingbar with each other, and connecting the even numbered data link line andthe second data shorting bar with each other through contact holes;inputting test signals to the gate lines and the data lines throughfirst and second gate shorting bars and the first and second datashorting bars, and performing a test for of the LC panel; cutting andremoving the first and second gate shorting bars, the first and seconddata shorting bars, and the odd and even numbered data link lines by acutting means.

The present invention may have the following advantages.

Firstly, a threshold voltage difference between the thin filmtransistors (TFTs) connected to the data lines may be prevented, bymaintaining a charging current occurring from the odd numbered data lineto be equal to a charging current occurring from the even numbered dataline, by disconnecting the first data shorting bar and the second datashorting bar from the odd numbered data link line and the even numbereddata link line, respectively,

Secondly, the data lines may always have the same equi-potential byarranging first equi-potential circuits at the odd and even numbereddata link lines, and by forming second equi-potential circuits and ametallic line at the end of the data lines.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a structure of a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) device in accordance with the conventional art;

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a structure of a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a planar view showing a structure of an LC panel of an LCDdevice according to the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line ‘I-I’ in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a connection structure of data shorting bars ofan LCD device according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view showing a structure of lower end portions of data linesof an LCD device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Description will now be given in detail of the present invention, withreference to the accompanying drawings.

For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, thesame or equivalent components will be provided with the same referencenumbers, and description thereof will not be repeated.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail withreference to the attached drawings.

The present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display (LCD)device having a structure that one data line is shared by two pixels,capable of preventing deterioration of a picture quality due to athreshold voltage difference between a TFT of a pixel connected to anodd numbered data line, and a TFT of a pixel connected to an evennumbered data line.

The reason why a threshold voltage difference occurs between the TFT ofthe pixel connected to the odd numbered data line, and the TFT of thepixel connected to the even numbered data line is as follows.

In a fourth-mask process at the time of fabricating an LCD device, anactive layer formed below source and drain electrodes is disposed belowthe source electrode, the drain electrode and the data line.

A shorting bar formed outside a display region is connected to the dataline of the LCD device. This shorting bar serves to apply a test signalinto a pixel through the data line, and is a part cut to be removed atthe time of producing a final product of the LCD device. Generally, anodd numbered data line and an even numbered data line are connected todifferent data shorting bars. When the data shorting bars have areasdifferent from each other, active layers disposed below the datashorting bars also have areas different from each other.

The active layer is dry-etched by a plasma with using a metallic layerthereabove as a blocking. Here, the active layer is not under-etchedwhereas an end portion of the metallic layer is under-etched by beingwet-etched. This may cause the active layer to have a tail extendingfrom the end of the metallic layer by a predetermined distance. Chargesare accumulated on the tail of the active layer during processes,resulting in flowing a charging current. Since the data shorting barconnected to the odd numbered data line has an area different from thatof the data shorting bar connected to the even numbered data line, anentire area and a tail area of the active layer connected to the oddnumbered data line is different from those of the active layer connectedto the even numbered data line. Accordingly, a charging currentoccurring from the odd numbered data line is different from a chargingcurrent occurring from the even numbered data line. This may cause athreshold voltage difference between the TFT connected to the oddnumbered data line and the TFT connected to the even numbered data line.

Moreover, since the odd numbered data line and the even numbered dataline are connected to different data shorting bars, the odd numbereddata line has a length different from that of the even numbered dataline. The length difference between the odd numbered data line and theeven numbered data line causes a length difference of the active layerstherebelow. Accordingly, a size of a charging current flowing along theodd numbered data line is different from that of a charging currentflowing along the even numbered data line. This may cause a thresholdvoltage difference between the TFT connected to the odd numbered dataline and the TFT connected to the even numbered data line.

To solve the above problems, the present invention is to provide an LCDdevice capable of preventing the occurrence of a threshold voltagedifference between the TFT connected to the odd numbered data line andthe TFT connected to the even numbered data line.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a structure of an LCD deviceaccording to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of gate lines 103 and data lines 105which define a plurality of pixels by being arranged in horizontal andvertical directions are formed on an LC panel 101. A thin filmtransistor (TFT) 107, a switching device is arranged in each pixel. Whena scan signal is inputted to the TFT through the gate line 103, the TFTis switched to apply a data signal inputted through the data line 105 tothe pixel 109.

Data shorting bars 182 and 184, and gate shorting bars 186 and 188 aredisposed at an outer periphery of the LC panel 101, and are connected tothe data lines 105 and the gate lines 103, respectively. The datashorting bars 182 and 184, and the gate shorting bars 186 and 188 areadditional lines for inputting test signals to the LC panel 101 throughdata pads and gate pads (not shown) formed at the ends of the data lines105 and the gate lines 103. By the inputted test signals, the TFT 107inside the pixel 109 can be inspected.

Although not shown, the gate shorting bars 186 and 188 are connected toa gate test signal generator, thereby supplying a gate test signaloutputted from the gate test signal generator to the gate lines 103.And, the data shorting bars 182 and 184 are connected to a data testsignal generator, thereby supplying a data test signal outputted fromthe data test signal generator to the data lines 105.

The data shorting bars 182 and 184, and the gate shorting bars 186 and188 are formed in two in number, and are connected to the odd numberedline and the even numbered line, respectively. More concretely, the oddnumbered data line is connected to the first data shorting bar 182, andthe even numbered data line is connected to the second data shorting bar184. And, the odd numbered gate line is connected to the first gateshorting bar 186, and the even numbered gate line is connected to thesecond gate shorting bar 188.

Although not shown, a gate driving portion and a data driving portionare disposed outside the LC panel 101. A scan signal is inputted to theTFT 107 through the gate line 103, and an image signal inputted to thedata line 105 is applied to the pixel electrode via the TFT 107.

FIG. 3A is a planar view showing a pixel structure of an LCD deviceaccording to the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a sectional viewtaken along line ‘I-I’ in FIG. 3A. Generally, a plurality of pixels areformed at an LCD device. However, the drawings illustrate only one pixelfor convenience.

As shown in FIG. 3A, one pixel is defined on an LC panel by one gateline and one data line crossing each other. Two pixels are arrangedbetween the gate lines 103 a and 103 b, and the data line 105. Eachcolumn of pixels are provided with the first gate line 103 a and thesecond gate line 103 b. A thin film transistor (TFT) 107 a is formed atthe pixel arranged between the gate line 103 a and the data line 105,and a thin film transistor (TFT) 107 b is formed at the pixel arrangedbetween the gate line 103 b and the data line 105. Here, the TFTs 107 aand 107 b formed at the pixels adjacent to each other in a state thatthe data line 105 is interposed therebetween share one data line 105,and apply different image signals to the pixels by being connected tothe first gate line 103 a and the second gate line 103 b.

The TFTs 107 a and 107 b respectively include gate electrodes 113 a and113 b connected to the gate lines 103 a and 103 b, semiconductor layers114 a and 114 b formed on the gate electrodes 113 a and 113 b, andforming current channels when scan signals are applied to the gateelectrodes 113 a and 113 b through the gate line lines 103 a and 103 b,source electrodes 117 a and 117 b formed on the semiconductor layers 114a and 114 b, and applying signals inputted through the data line 105 tothe pixels, and drain electrodes 118 a and 118 b.

Pixel electrodes 109 are formed in the pixels. The pixel electrodes 109are arranged at the pixels adjacent to the data line 105 (i.e., pixelsshared by one data line). However, when the pixels are adjacent to eachother without the data line 105, the pixel electrodes 109 are arrangedto face each other.

A metallic layer 132 is arranged between pixels not shared by the dataline 109, i.e., pixels where the data line 105 has not been arranged.The metallic layer 132 is electrically connected to metallic layers 132of the adjacent pixels by a metallic layer connection pattern 132 a.

A structure of this LC panel will be explained in more detail withreference to FIG. 3B.

As shown in FIG. 3B, a gate electrode 113 a is formed on a firstsubstrate 150 formed of a transparent material such as glass, and a gateinsulating layer 152 is formed on the first substrate 150 having thegate electrode 113 a formed thereon. A semiconductor layer 114 a isformed on the gate insulating layer 152, and a source electrode 117 aand a drain electrode 118 a are formed on the semiconductor layer 114 a.A passivation layer 154 is formed on the first substrate 150 having thesource electrode 117 a and the drain electrode 118 a formed thereon. Apixel electrode 109 formed of a transparent conductive material such asIndium Tin Oxide (ITO) or Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO) is formed on thepassivation layer 154. A contact hole is formed at the passivation layer154, through which the pixel electrode 109 is electrically connected tothe drain electrode 118 a. On a second substrate 160 formed of atransparent insulating material such as glass, formed are a black matrix162 and a color filter layer 164. The black matrix 162 serves to preventlight leakage to an image non-display region, e.g., a TFT region, or aspace between pixels, and the color filter layer 164 serves tosubstantially implement colors. A common electrode 166 which forms anelectric field between itself and the pixel electrode 109 is formed onthe color filter layer 164.

An LC layer 170 is formed between the first substrate 150 and the secondsubstrate 160, thereby completing an LCD device. Alignment layers (notshown) for aligning LC molecules are formed on the first substrate 150and the second substrate 160.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a connection structure of data shorting barsformed at an upper end of an outer periphery of an LCD device accordingto the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, an odd numbered data link line 191 a is connected toa first data shorting bar 182, and an even numbered data link line 191 bis connected to a second data shorting bar 182. Although not shown, anodd numbered data pad is connected to the odd numbered data link line191 a, and an odd numbered data line is connected to the odd numbereddata pad. And, an even numbered data pad is connected to the evennumbered data link line 191 b, and an even numbered data line isconnected to the even numbered data pad. As shown, a connection line 193is formed at the second data shorting bar 184, through which the evennumbered data link line 191 b is connected to the second data shortingbar 184.

The first data shorting bar 182 is formed of the same metallic materialas the source electrodes 117 a and 117 b of the TFTs, and the seconddata shorting bar 184 is formed of the same metallic material as thegate electrodes 113 a and 113 b of the TFTs.

As shown in FIG. 4, the odd numbered data link line 191 a and the evennumbered data link line 191 b are disconnected from the first datashorting bar 182 and the second data shorting bar 184, respectively, andthen are electrically connected to the first data shorting bar 182 andthe second data shorting bar 184, respectively by first and secondtransparent electrodes 194 a and 194 b formed of ITO or IZO. The firstand second transparent electrodes 194 a and 194 b are simultaneouslyformed when forming the pixel electrode 109 of the LC panel. The firsttransparent electrode 194 a is electrically connected to the first datashorting bar 182 and the odd numbered data link line 191 a, through acontact hole 198 a of the first data shorting bar 182 and a contact hole199 a of the odd numbered data link line 191 a, thereby electricallyconnecting the first data shorting bar 182 and the odd numbered datalink line 191 a with each other. The second transparent electrode 194 bis electrically connected to the second data shorting bar 184 and theeven numbered data link line 191 b, through a contact hole 198 b of thesecond data shorting bar 184 and a contact hole 199 b of the evennumbered data link line 191 b, thereby electrically connecting thesecond data shorting bar 184 and the even numbered data link line 191 bwith each other.

The reason why the data link lines 191 a and 191 b are disconnected fromthe first and second data shorting bars 182 and 184, and then areindirectly connected to the first and second data shorting bars 182 and184 by the transparent electrodes 194 a and 194 b is as follows.

If the data link lines 191 a and 191 b are not disconnected from thefirst and second data shorting bars 182 and 184 but are connected toeach other, positions of the first and second data shorting bars 182 and184 are different from each other. This may cause a length of the oddnumbered data link line 191 a connected to the first data shorting bar182 to be different from a length of the even numbered data link line191 b connected to the second data shorting bar 184.

As aforementioned, a threshold voltage difference occurs between the TFTconnected to the odd numbered data line and the TFT connected to theeven numbered data line, because the active layers disposed below thedata lines and the data link lines 191 a and 191 b, i.e., thesemiconductor layers have sizes different from each other. If the datalink lines 191 a and 191 b are not disconnected from the data shortingbars 182 and 184 but are directly connected to the data shorting bars182 and 184, a length of the odd numbered data link line 191 a becomesdifferent from a length of the even numbered data link line 191 b. As aresult, the active layers have sizes different from each other, andcharging amounts of the active layers become different from each other.This may cause a threshold voltage difference between the TFT connectedto the odd numbered data line and the TFT connected to the even numbereddata line.

In the present invention, the data link lines 191 a and 191 b aredisconnected from the first and second data shorting bars 182 and 184,thereby making the length of the odd numbered data link line 191 a equalto the length of the even numbered data link line 191 b. This makescharging amounts of the active layers equal to each other. Accordingly,a threshold voltage difference does not occur between the TFT connectedto the odd numbered data line 191 a and the TFT connected to the evennumbered data line 191 b.

Furthermore, the data link lines 191 a and 191 b are disconnected fromthe first and second data shorting bars 182 and 184, thereby preventingcharges of the first and second data shorting bars 182 and 184 frombeing introduced into the odd numbered data link line 191 a and the evennumbered data line 191 b. This may prevent flowing of different amountsof charges into the data lines due to an area difference between thefirst and second data shorting bars 182 and 184.

Generally, charges are generated from the active layers when the activelayers are etched by plasma. Accordingly, even if the data link lines191 a and 191 b are connected to the first and second data shorting bars182 and 182 by the transparent electrodes 194 a and 194 b formed in alater process, charging currents do not flow to the data lines by thetransparent electrodes 194 a and 194 b. After completing the LC panel bythe transparent electrodes 194 a and 194 b, test signals are inputted tothe data lines to perform a test.

First equi-potential circuits 196 are arranged between the data linklines 191 a and 191 b adjacent to each other. The first equi-potentialcircuits 196 serve to constantly maintain potentials of the data linesadjacent to each other during processes, and are formed of TFTs, etc.

Once a test has been performed after completing the LC panel, the datashorting bar and the connection structure are removed by laser or acutting wheel.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a structure of a lower end portion of an outerperiphery of an LCD device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, end portions of the data lines 105 are connected toa metallic line 210 through second equi-potential circuits 212. Thesecond equi-potential circuits 212 are formed of TFTs, and serve to formthe data lines 105 with the same potential. The second equi-potentialcircuits 212 connected to the data lines 105 are connected to themetallic line 210. Since the metallic line 210 consists of the sourceelectrodes 117 a and 117 b of the TFTs, all of the data lines 105 canmaintain the same potential. Here, the metallic line 210 may begrounded.

The second equi-potential circuits 212 and the metallic line 210 performthe same function as the first equi-potential circuits 196 formed atupper ends of an outer periphery of the LCD device. In the presentinvention, the first and second equi-potential circuits 196 and 197 aredually arranged. This may allow the data lines to always maintain aconstant potential even if one of the two equi-potential circuits ismal-operated.

As aforementioned, the odd numbered data link lines 191 a and the evennumbered data link line 191 b are disconnected from the first and seconddata shorting bars 182 and 184, thereby preventing charging currentsresulting from the first and second data shorting bars 182 and 184 frombeing introduced into the data lines. Furthermore, the odd numbered datalink line 191 a and the even numbered data link line 191 b aredisconnected from the first and second data shorting bars 182 and 184,thereby making the length of the odd numbered data link line 191 a equalto the length of the even numbered data link line 191 b. This makes theamount of a charging current resulting from the odd numbered data linkline 191 a equal to the amount of a charging current resulting from theeven numbered data link line 191 b. Accordingly, a threshold voltagedifference between the TFT connected to the odd numbered data line andthe TFT connected to the even numbered data line.

In the LCD device, the pixel of the LC panel shown in FIG. 3, the gateshorting bars 186 and 188 and the data shorting bars 182 and 182disposed on an outer periphery of the LC panel shown in FIGS. 4 and 5are formed on a mother glass substrate by a TFT fabrication process.Then, the data link lines 191 a and 191 b are connected to the datashorting bars 182 and 184 by the transparent electrodes, and testsignals are applied to the LC panel through the data shorting bars 182and 184 and the gate shorting bars 186 and 188. After testing the LCpanel, the mother glass substrate is cut into unit LC panels by usinglaser or a cutting device such as a cutting wheel. Then, the unit LCpanels are separated from each other along cutting lines, and theshorting bar connection structure is removed from each of the unit LCpanels. Accordingly, an LCD device is completed.

The present invention may be applied not only to the specific structuredisclosed in the detailed description, but also to various structures.

For instance, the LC panel has a structure that two pixels share onedata line. However, the LC panel may have a structure that one pixel isconnected to one data line. The reason why the LC panel of the presentinvention has a structure that two pixels share one data line is becausethe present invention can have a maximized effect from the structure. Itis obvious that the present invention can have an effect from an LCDdevice having a structure that one pixel is connected to one data line.

Furthermore, the first equi-potential circuits or the secondequi-potential circuits may be applied not only to circuits having aspecific structure, but also to any types of equi-potential circuits.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The presentteachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thisdescription is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scopeof the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods,and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described hereinmay be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternativeexemplary embodiments.

As the present features may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understoodthat the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of thedetails of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, butrather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in theappended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fallwithin the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metesand bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) device, comprising: an liquid crystal (LC) panel having a plurality of pixels defined by a plurality of gate lines and data lines; at least one gate shorting bar disposed at the outside of the LC panel, for applying a test signal to the LC panel through gate lines; first and second data shorting bars disposed at the outside of the LC panel, for applying test signals to odd and even numbered data lines, respectively; odd numbered data link lines connected to the odd numbered data lines, the odd numbered data link lines being apart from the first data shorting bar in a predetermined distance; even numbered data link lines connected to the even numbered data lines, the even numbered data link lines being apart from the second data shorting bar in a predetermined distance; and a transparent electrode for electrically connecting the odd numbered data link lines and the first data shorting bar with each other, and connecting the even numbered data link lines and the second data shorting bar with each other through contact holes, wherein the odd numbered data link lines have a length equal to that of the even numbered data link lines.
 2. The LCD device of claim 1, wherein the LC panel comprises: a plurality of gate lines for applying scan signals to the pixels; a plurality of data lines crossing the gate lines, each data line being shared by two adjacent pixels to apply an image signal to the corresponding pixel; a thin film transistor (TFT) at each of the pixels; a pixel electrode at each of the pixels; and a metallic layer at a boundary region between pixels which do not share by the data line.
 3. The LCD device of claim 2, wherein the TFT comprises: a gate electrode on a first substrate; a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer; source and drain electrodes on the semiconductor layer; and a passivation layer over an entire region of the first substrate.
 4. The LCD device of claim 3, wherein the first data shorting bar is formed of the same material as the source electrode, the second data shorting bar is formed of the same material as the gate electrode.
 5. The LCD device of claim 1, wherein the transparent electrode is formed of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) or Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO).
 6. The LCD device of claim 1, further comprising a first equi-potential circuit disposed between the odd numbered data link line and the even numbered data link line to maintain potentials of the odd and even numbered data link lines to be equal to each other.
 7. The LCD device of claim 1, further comprising: a second equi-potential circuit connected to an end of the data line; and a metallic line disposed below the data line, and the metallic line being connected to the data line through the second equi-potential circuit.
 8. The LCD device of claim 7, wherein the metallic line is formed of the same material as the source electrode of the TFT.
 9. The LCD device of claim 1, further comprising: a first equi-potential circuit disposed between the odd numbered data link line and the even numbered data link line to maintain potentials of the odd and even numbered data link lines to be equal to each other; a second equi-potential circuit connected to an end of the data line; and a metallic line disposed below the data line, the metallic line being connected to the data line through the second equi-potential circuit.
 10. A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, the method comprising: forming, on a substrate, an LC panel including gate lines and data lines for defining a plurality of pixels and TFTs, at least one gate shorting bar at the outside of the LC panel to apply a test signal to the LC panel through gate lines, first and second data shorting bars at the outside of the LC panel to apply test signals to odd numbered data lines and even numbered data lines, respectively, odd numbered data link lines connected to the odd numbered data lines and apart from the first data shorting bar in a predetermined distance, and even numbered data link lines connected to the even numbered data lines and apart from the second data shorting bar in a predetermined distance; forming a transparent electrode for electrically connecting the odd numbered data link line and the first data shorting bar with each other, and connecting the even numbered data link line and the second data shorting bar with each other through contact holes; inputting test signals to the gate lines and the data lines through first and second gate shorting bars and the first and second data shorting bars, and performing a test for the LC panel; cutting and removing the first and second gate shorting bars, the first and second data shorting bars, and the odd and even numbered data link lines by a cutting means.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: forming a first equi-potential circuit between the odd numbered data link line and the even numbered data link line to maintain potentials of the odd and even numbered data link lines to be equal to each other; and forming a second equi-potential circuit connected to an end of the data line and a metallic line connected to the data line through the second equi-potential circuit, the metallic line being disposed below the data line. 